SPACE DOCTORS RESPONDS TO DEMAND

WITH APPOINTMENT OF CATO HUNT TO LEAD LONDON OFFICE

With the UK economy enjoying its strongest growth in more than a decade, and news that marketing spend among the top 100 advertisers in the US has reached a record $109bn, the race is on for agencies to ensure they have the right capability and expertise to meet this demand in the coming months.

Brands increase investment in insight in 2014/15

Agencies face challenge of delivering against growing demand

Space Doctors announces new hires and expansion plans

Global insight consultancy Space Doctors, which specialises in semiotics and cultural insight has seen a 30% increase in year on year revenues.

Space Doctors is responding with the announcement today that Cato Hunt is joining the team to lead the London office.

Cato has previously spent 15 years with Added Value, where she was instrumental in the growth of the Global Cultural Insight Team, growing cultural insight from a niche methodology to a global offering. Her role saw her create and develop a global team, forge a new offer and integrate cultural insight approaches across the broader business to drive client growth. Although a specialist in cultural insight and semiotics, her experience encompasses trends, qualitative research, brand strategy and ethnography – a rare mix which is increasingly valuable when much of the industry’s evolution is coming from the convergence of disciplines.

“Exploring the possibilities of what cultural and semiotic insight can do to build brands is one of my passions,” says Hunt. “I want to be part of creating this future and Space Doctors has an inspiring, bold vision which chimes with my own –making the most of new digital and mobile technologies, creating new offers by integrating with other disciplines, creating impactful new ways of telling and experiencing brand stories.”

She adds: “Putting culture at the heart of brand strategy isn’t new, but it’s more important than ever if clients want their brands to grow and stay meaningful in an increasingly cluttered world. Space Doctors wants to continue to be the industry trailblazers in new, progressive thinking and I can’t wait to help shape that journey.”

Space Doctors global team sources 70% of its revenue from Asia Pacific and the Americas, so establishment of teams in these regions is next on the priority list.

“I am absolutely delighted that Cato has agreed to join us to lead our London office,” says Fiona McNae, CEO of Space Doctors. “Cato is the best of the best when it comes to today’s leading edge cultural and semiotic insight. Together we will continue to drive Space Doctors innovative methodologies – via our live semiotics mobile app Cymbol™ and through leveraging the best of the non-traditional research sciences for our clients around the world”.

“Bringing Cato on board and developing our expansion plans are an indication of our confidence for the future,” says McNae. “Since 2001 we have grown organically, helping clients such as Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Nestlé, General Mills, Godrej, Givaudan and Havas understand how to create meaningful and impactful difference for their brands.We have refined our approach over 13 years and built our global reputation as partners in strategy, innovation, design and sustainability. As we emerge from the recession, with marketers finding themselves ready to invest strategically in the most impactful, transformative insight, Space Doctors will be ready to meet that demand.”